Oral and dental health affects happiness

While scientific studies conducted in recent years have revealed a strong connection between oral flora and intestinal health, the immune system, and the secretion of the happiness hormone serotonin, experts state that oral and dental health has a direct impact not only on physical but also on mental well-being.

Experts say that regular dental care not only prevents diseases but also increases the secretion of the happiness hormone, making people feel better.

Stating that the importance of oral and dental health is increasing day by day, Necmettin Erbakan University Faculty of Dentistry Dean Prof. Dr. Ali Rıza Tunçdemir said, "We know that oral and dental health, or diseases related to it, can lead to problems with the heart, kidneys, rheumatoid arthritis, and pregnancy. However, especially in recent studies, we've learned that oral and dental health is much more closely related to physical health. The World Health Organization defines health as a state of mental, physical, and social well-being. It defines it not only as a state of physical and mental well-being, but also as a state of spiritual well-being. Therefore, recent studies have demonstrated that happiness is actually linked to oral and dental health. We know very well that the gut flora is called the second brain and is crucial for body health and the immune system. However, new studies reveal that bacteria, viruses, and fungi in the mouth are directly linked to the gastrointestinal flora and significantly affect it. Therefore, this is very important: Happiness is truly linked to oral and dental health. I believe this is important to emphasize. We strive to be healthier by dedicating significant time and effort to our personal care, physical health, exercise, and spending significant amounts of time on it." We spend time and money. By simply paying attention to oral and dental health—brushing and flossing—for just two minutes in the morning and two minutes in the evening, we can improve our mental, social, and physical well-being. Unfortunately, because we postpone and neglect this, we not only experience oral and dental health problems but also negatively impact our physical health because it directly affects our oral microbiota, oral flora, and intestinal flora.

"If we pay attention to oral and dental health, the serotonin hormone will be secreted much more."

Underlining that the latest studies are remarkable, Prof. Dr. Ali Rıza Tunçdemir, "Changes in the bacterial flora in the mouth can cause colon cancer. A study was conducted on 200 students. 100 of them were given oral probiotics, while 100 were given no probiotics at all. Because these oral probiotics reduced stress levels, those students performed much better on exams, while the students who were not given probiotics were found to be much less successful. So, this is something that deserves serious attention. The hormone we call serotonin, the happiness hormone, is secreted in the intestines. Of course, since the intestinal flora directly affects the intestines, in this sense, if we pay attention to oral and dental health care to ensure that serotonin is secreted in excess, this hormone will be secreted much more. We will be able to walk around much happier. We will feel much better. I even tried this myself. When I brush and floss my teeth in the evenings, I feel much more comfortable, much fresher, and much more refreshed during the day." "While I wake up happy, I unfortunately feel like I wake up much more tense or unable to get a full night's sleep when I don't brush or floss," he said.

"We definitely need to use dental floss."

Professor Dr. Ali Rıza Tunçdemir noted that much newer information will be obtained in the future regarding general health, and that oral and dental health will actually have a much greater impact on the body's overall health. He said, "Let's prioritize oral and dental health for just two minutes in the morning and two minutes in the evening. Let's brush our teeth effectively. Because the biggest mistake people make is brushing only our front teeth and not our back teeth, or flossing. Even if we brush our teeth 10 times a day, if we don't floss, the toothbrush is virtually ineffective because it doesn't clean between the teeth. For it to be effective in oral and dental health, we absolutely must learn to floss and use it. These are truly effective for us. We sometimes use antibiotics in our patients' treatments. When we use antibiotics, they kill harmful bacteria in the body, but they also kill beneficial bacteria. In these times, the use of probiotics is incredibly valuable because they increase the amount of beneficial bacteria in the body and mouth. I think it would be much better if we prioritized this."